Recognizes fruit on the branch and picks it itself: The new assistant robot for farmers
Developed in Spain, the AI‑powered agricultural robot Dragonbot determines the ripeness level of fruits using imaging technology and picks those ready for harvest itself. Designed for the dragonfruit, known for its delicate structure, the robot successfully harvested more than 75% of the ripe produce in field trials.
A new addition has been made to the technological efforts aimed at reducing labor needs in agriculture. Researchers at Valencia Polytechnic University in Spain have developed an autonomous robot that can recognize fruits on the branch and collect the ripening ones without human intervention.
The system called Dragonbot was designed especially for pitaya, the dragon fruit among the delicate fruits that normally require hand harvesting.
Developed by the university's Agricultural Robotics Laboratory and the Institute of Automation and Industrial Informatics, the robot determines whether the harvest time has arrived by analyzing each fruit individually.
Collecting the fruit without crushing or damaging it.
Dragonbot, equipped with four-wheel drive, can move across rough agricultural terrain. The soft grippers on its mechanical arm grasp the fruit without causing damage. Vibrating blades and pneumatic scissors perform the cutting operation.
Laboratory Director Francisco Rovira stated that Dragonbot is the world's first robotic system developed specifically for dragon fruit harvesting.
Success Exceeding 75% in Field Trials
In tests conducted on actual farmland, the robot managed to harvest more than 75% of the ripe dragon fruits. It was reported that the damage rate to the produce during harvest remained below 12%.
Project Coordinator Coral Ortiz said the developed technology could be used in the future not only for dragon fruit but also for other delicate products that need to be harvested by hand.
Reducing Labor Needs in Agriculture Is Targeted
Supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the Valencia Government, the project aims to reduce the reliance on human labor in agricultural production and minimize crop losses during harvest.
Dragonbot, expected to ease the workload on farmers especially during peak harvest periods, is intended to contribute to the use of autonomous robot technologies in agriculture.
Comments
You must sign in to comment.
Sign InYou Might Also Like
Turkish scientist Metin Aytekin in the United States seeks solutions to serious diseases
Turkish scientist Associate Professor Dr. Metin Aytekin, who began his scientific journey in Vienna and continued it in the United States, contributes to research on serious vascular diseases at Pittsburgh University.
NASA is looking for next‑generation astronauts! Applications for lunar and Mars missions have begun.
NASA has opened applications to select next‑generation astronauts who will live and work on the Moon under the Artemis Program. The deadline for applicants is December 3.
Unexpected question to Trump in front of the White House! The reporter's words made headlines.
After the U.S. midterm elections, Donald Trump faced the press, and while heading toward the helicopter, he was confronted with a striking question from a Sky News reporter.
.avif){kind=small}